Simple Side Table or Nightstand — board plan

What to buy, and which parts come off which board.

Buy 4 boards at 8 ft.

1 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 2x4

2 boards · 6.8 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 85% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 9 1/2" left over
21 1/4"21 1/4"21 1/4"21 1/4"
1. Legs — 21 1/4"
2. Legs — 21 1/4"
3. Legs — 21 1/4"
4. Legs — 21 1/4"
Board 2 · 18 1/2" left over
19"19"19"19"
1. Side supports — 19"
2. Side supports — 19"
3. Side supports — 19"
4. Side supports — 19"

3/4" × 11 1/4" — 1x12

1 board · 3.0 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 48% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 49 3/4" left over
22 1/2"22 1/2"
1. Top shelf — 22 1/2"
2. Top shelf — 22 1/2"

3/4" × 9 1/4" — 1x10

1 board · 2.4 board feet (includes 15% for knots and defects) · 47% of the boards you buy used

Board 1 · 50 3/4" left over
22"22"
1. Bottom shelf — 22"
2. Bottom shelf — 22"

Cuts are listed longest-first, which is how they should be made: the awkward pieces get placed while there is still board to place them on. The layout assumes one end of each board is squared off (1") and that every cut costs 1/8" of kerf — the reason six 16″ parts do not fit on a 96″ board.

1 1/2" × 3 1/2" — 2x4

Board 1 · 9 1/2" left over

Board 2 · 18 1/2" left over

3/4" × 11 1/4" — 1x12

Board 1 · 49 3/4" left over

3/4" × 9 1/4" — 1x10

Board 1 · 50 3/4" left over